MDR1* GENOTYPING
One of the vets at our clinic advised us to do it, and we ordered the testing kits online, paid our $$ and two weeks later got the test results by email. Both our dogs tested normal/normal (I really thought Hudson would come back weird/evil, but now I've no formal testing to prove it...  )
Our own regular vet (and I must admit I adore him, and think he's just the greatest thing in the world) said (after we sent in our bucks) that he thinks it's nice to know information but that the necessity of it is a big overexagggerated as no matter what the results the med levels we generally use are significantly smaller in dosage than would be needed to trigger a reaction even in dogs who don't test out as "normal". I didn't think it was a huge amount of money to shell out to find out, and was a bit impressed that we could do our own cheek swabs at home and send it out for genetic testing and results (very CSIish). So I was wondering what everyone's thoughts were on this testing. I was interested in it since it only listed a small number of breeds that it actually applied to and sheepies were right near the top of that list (as a breed at risk). |
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| We have done it too. Chewie came back normal/normal as well.
Most of his litter was done too. With my 1st college degree in agricultural (animal) based research, I find it very interesting.  |
| We had this done for Gertie and it came back normal also. |
| I have Chewie's mom and a few siblings. I had their mom tested before we bred her just because she had had an odd reaction to ketamine and my vet suggested testing for the mutation. She came back normal-normal and I thought nothing more of it as it seemed not to be a pressing issue in our breed.
Later we had reason to test a rescue dog and she came back mutant-normal. A researcher at Washingington State contacted our rescue vet (OES breeder, my vet as well) directly when the results came back and told her that they had seen several cases of OES coming back with the mutation in the last few months and they were trying to see if there could be a connection. None of the dogs had pedigree information, but my vet, who had tested all of her own out of curiousity when I tested Mad (and they also came back normal-normal) decided to test the dog I bred Mad to (a European import - she doesn't own him, but I brought him to the Midwest when we bred Mad, she fell in love and got permission from his owners for him to live with her). I guess because she didn't have anyone else left to test and she was really curious. He came back mutant-normal. Uh-oh. I solicited my co-breeder and with her and the various puppy owners kind help (like Dawn and LeAnne) we started testing puppies - well, they were about two years old by the time we found out. So far seven of the eight have been tested and all but two came back normal-normal. Two are mutant-normal like their Dad. None can be mutant-mutant since Mom doesn't carry the gene mutation. I, too, thought Sybil would come back evil-weird. Or they'd contact me asking me why I'd submitted DNA on a goat for genetic testing? But all of mine did come back normal-normal. Worth it to me to know.
The mutant-normal does matter even for a dog who will never be bred as they can have some drug sensitivities, just to a lesser extent or it doesn't show up as quickly as in a mutant-mutant. Your vet is correct in that things like Ivermectin, which are among the drugs a dog with a copy (or two) of the mutated gene can react to are not found in lethal doses in things like HeartGuard (though I use Interceptor instead anyway just to be extra safe) It's s different story if you're treating for mange, which is typically treated with high doses of ivermectin; the reason we tested the rescue dog to begin with - another OES that was dumped at a shelter in the general area she was rescued from had died while undergoing treatement for mange, which she also had. Now, most of our dogs will never be treated for mange. But they may have surgery for one reason or another. My vet also tested her Mom's OES and one of them turned out to be mutant-mutant (not related to the other dogs) and knowing this I know she was sweating bullets when she had to put her under. It went well. Some cancer treatment drugs also fall under the sensitivities category for dogs with the gene mutation. Knowing ahead of time means your vet can take precautions. I approached several members of the OESCA Health and Research Committee this summer and asked them informally what it would take to add MRD1 to one of the reportable databases so the information can be shared. They said they'd look into it so hold on to your guys results if they have known pedigrees. You may be asked to share the info some day. Kristine |
| I will fall over in a faint if OESCA even mentions MRD1 let alone set up a database. The breed needs protecting but there are too many in the org who hide their heads and mumble, "My dogs are fine." They don't want to know and will fight any attempt to shine light on problems. |
SheepieBoss wrote: I will fall over in a faint if OESCA even mentions MRD1 let alone set up a database.
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SheepieBoss wrote: I will fall over in a faint if OESCA even mentions MRD1 let alone set up a database. The breed needs protecting but there are too many in the org who hide their heads and mumble, "My dogs are fine." They don't want to know and will fight any attempt to shine light on problems.
Gee - given that we now have an open health registry that includes CA, I would tend to think non-controversial MDR1 is going to be a non-issue. Do you want to be revived from your faint or shall we just leave you there?
After all, it is of fairly minor importoance to most dogs, and thanks to the fact that we have a genetic test, a perfectly simple issue to breed away from. Adding it to the database means some people will be able to assume normal-normal based on pedigree and not have to test their dogs (it does get expensive to do entire litters) I.e. if both parents are known to be normal-normal, any resulting offspring can be cleared by pedigree. That is the way it will work once we have a genetic test of some sort for CA as well btw. If people choose to test and release. And believe me, some of us will. Think of MDR1 as good practice for the tougher diseases 
Individual breeders may vary in their response to testing and releasing info, but the HRC committee members I talked to (many of the same who also tested their own dogs) seemed excited by the prospect of adding it. The imain issue they have to address would probably be which database to add it to. OESCA's open health regisrty database makes the most sense even though with an available genetic test MDR1 should technically fall under CHIC. But because it's not an OFA test, OFA will charge for data submissions, adding to the cost of sharing health info in a way OESCA does not. So they have some practical issues to discuss among themselves and then they'll need to present whatever they come up with to the OESCA board for approval, of course. But given how hard many of the board members worked to open the CA registry, this should surely be a no brainer. (Stop lauging, Kerry., I really do believe this and, no, I don't believe in Santa )
Whether or not individual breeders use it is up to them. But those of us who have tested - and you don't have to be a breeder to have your dog tested and release the results, of course - figure it may be helpful to somebody, so why not share? Kristine |
| We tested the 6 girls which includes a BC-mix and Schipperkee?-mix (have been told probably more like Cattle Dog-mix by a trainer and vet). All 6 were were normal/normal. I have a test kit in my desk drawer for Bumble too. It's just nice to now for certain if they DON'T have the gene early on... more of a preventative approach.
There is an interesting, more technical article at this address- http://www.pnas.org/content/101/32/11725.full Border Collies and Cattle Dogs were not found to have it but as few as 5 dogs per breed had been tested so it probably doesn't show an accurate overall view of the breed. Quote: The allele was not found in the Border Collie, Bearded Collie, or Australian Cattle Dog, three collie-related breeds that have reportedly exhibited ivermectin sensitivity (21). The presence of drug sensitivity in these breeds implies that mdr1-1Δ may be present at a low frequency, or that another mutation is responsible. Negative results from a multibreed panel indicated that, in general, the baseline frequency among all purebred dogs is low. This panel consisted of as few as five dogs per breed, so additional breeds segregating mdr1-1Δ may yet be discovered. |
| Naw, you don't have to revive......I'll come around. I can't wait until the club is populated more with those more interested in preserving the breed, not their lines or reputation. Sounds like there's hope.
Interesting info re: the ivermectin sensitivity. Also waiting to see how this develops re: the collie-like breeds. Finally, have loved the name Bumbles ever since the UK show with the dog trainer and the clueless OES owners. Our Jack's nickname is Bumbles. |
Quote: Finally, have loved the name Bumbles ever since the UK show with the dog trainer and the clueless OES owners. Our Jack's nickname is Bumbles.
We used to call our OES-mix "the abominable" after this guy- http://ericboggs.files.wordpress.com/20 ... umble1.jpg http://oesusa.com/Nikki/Nikki-8.jpg I saw that episode of Bumble and Doogle on "It's Me Or The Dog" too. I hope he'll be better behaved  |
| I tested Tonks and Luna,a nd both were Normal/Normal. |
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